Leading Moms

Andrea Thomas Hill is driven by a strong sense of philanthropy and community service. In 1992, she founded Run for the Cure in Canada, and suddenly, families, friend and communities were running together for someone they loved. The event grew to become a vital part of our country’s landscape and raised millions of dollars in breast cancer research funds.

Taryn Brumfitt is the Founder of Body Image Movement, a global movement which teaches women to love their bodies. “My role is to harness and facilitate positive body image activism, I’d like to think of myself as a loveable activist!”.

Taryn’s mission is to harness and facilitate positive body image activism by leading a global movement that creates a shift in the way women think about themselves and their bodies.

In 2014 Taryn launched a Kickstarter campaign for “Embrace”, a documentary on her body image story. The trailer has been seen by over 8 Million people, raised over $330,000 and was backed by Rosie O’Donnell, Ashton Kutcher, Perez Hilton and over 10,000 people across the world.

A teacher, writer and master storyteller, Comfort uses her artistic talents to enrich the community with her interactive stories through drama, song, poetry, and story-telling in English and French. She has told stories and conducted workshops in hundreds of Canadian schools and community centres. She has written many books; Kokodiko the Dance Monster is her latest work. Comfort has received many awards as a teacher, performing artist and community worker both in Nigeria and Canada. She uses her artistic talents to discourage discrimination and bullying in schools and to share her African heritage. The Canadian community has benefited immensely from her contribution to education through the Arts.

Marnie Goldenberg is the Sexplainer. A circuitous path including leading canoe trips with at-risk youth, legal training, counselling for Planned Parenthood, senior leadership roles in the voluntary sector and, of course, parenting, brings her to today. Marnie thinks sexuality is predominantly a force of good in the world and takes every opportunity to engage with parents about how to talk to young people about sex in healthy and happy ways. She launched her blog in March 2013, teaches kids about sex, spoke at a local TEDx, is currently writing a book and helping plan a US-based sex education conference. www.sexplainer.com

Keri-Anne Livingstone is a mom of two boys, wife and former Corporate Marketing Professional who transformed her “unconscious” life in every way by exploring one powerful concept – Daring to Suck. Today she serves the world as certified professional coach and speaker helping men, women, executives and entrepreneurs unleash more of their true self into everything they do to “come alive” in their life and work. She demonstrates that when we listen to our heart, leap into the unknown and TRUST, amazing experiences and reaching our full potential are waiting for us on the other side. www.DaringtoSuck.ca

Over the past two decades, Canadians have gotten to know Christine through the company’s numerous television and radio commercial spots. And last year, Leading Moms attendees got a chance to meet Christine in real life.

Louise Green is a globally recognized voice at the forefront of the body advocacy movement. Louise is a certified fitness professional as well as a successful plus size athlete. She empowers athletes of all shapes and sizes in a culture that generally dominates one ideal.

Green, is not only the founder of Body Exchange (with 6 locations in Canada) but also a writer, host of international wellness retreats and an advocate with a comprehensive continental reach.

Green’s unflinching and unapologetic questioning of the way we view plus-size athleticism is also the catalyst for her groundbreaking book, “Limitless” which will be launched in 2015.

Green has been published internationally on platforms such as The New York Times, UK’s Daily Mail, Huffington Post and XOJane. She has also pitched her business concept on CBC’s Dragon’s Den and was a highly heralded speaker at the first annual Body Love Conference in Tucson, Arizona.

Michele Kambolis (MA) is a Registered Clinical Counselor and parent educator recognized for her dedication to empowering children and families. Her first book, Generation Stressed: a handbook for parents of children suffering from anxiety-related issues will be released in September 2014 by LifeTree Media. Her CHI Kids school delivers many courses created for parents, children and educators to unlock the power of play in building child resiliency. Michele writes a popular weekly parenting and advice column for the Vancouver Sun called “Parent Traps,” which runs across Canada in the Postmedia Network chain of newspapers. Michele integrates the power of attachment with science-based methods with the intention to ensure all children have the opportunity to fully thrive.

Madeleine Shaw is a social entrepreneur known for her longstanding commitment to green products, progressive business practices and women entrepreneurs. She is the co-founder of Lunapads.com, a for-profit venture that manufactures and markets an online collection of healthy and eco-friendly products for girls and women to support them throughout their life cycle.

Thanks to Lunapads, over 1 million pads and tampons are being diverted from landfills every month. She is also the co-founder of Pads4Girls, a social change project that provides sustainable hygiene supplies to girls in developing nations and G Day for Girls, a global social movement to celebrate and empower adolescent girls.

Jen Schaeffers is the Executive Director, CKNW Orphans’ Fund and Founder, NetworkinginVan.com. With over 12 years experience in sports marketing, including roles with Intrawest and the Vancouver Canucks, Jen left the corporate world in 2011 to pursue philanthropy full time.

Organizations she has been involved with, both past and present include: Women Leaders in Non-Profit, Women’s Leadership Circle, The Minerva Foundation for BC Women and Ronald McDonald House BC.

In 2014, Jen was recognized as a finalist in the community building category for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards and awarded the TELUS ‘Women of Promise’ Award. She is a mentor and frequent public speaker on topics such as networking, non-profit and leadership.

Kathy Buckworth is an award winning writer, public speaker, spokesperson and television personality. She is the author of six books, with her latest I Am So The Boss Of You (Random House) being optioned by Warner Brothers Television. In addition to be being a parenting expert on Cityline and Breakfast Television, she is also a feature writer for the Metro News in their parenting and travel sections, a blogger for Huffington Post Canada, and a columnist for ParentsCanada and GoodLife, and contributes to other national magazines and newspapers.Her monthly “Funny Mummy” column appears on 25+ websites across North America.Kathy is a two time winner of the Professional Writers Association of Canada Award for Excellence in Humour. Kathy is the Chief Family Advisor for Presidents Choice Financial and Loblaw’s PCPlus program. She will be hosting Toronto Speaks: Parenting on Rogers Television, starting in September 2013. She has four children. It’s enough, already.

UsedVancouver.com is a free, family-friendly, Canadian-owned classified site committed to keeping useful materials out of landfills and locals connected. Each item bought and sold through our sites has a unique story and every connection between users creates a new chapter.

It’s easy to find what you’re looking for on UsedVancouver.com. Listings have large images, so it’s fun to source pieces for your next upcycling or refinishing project. UsedVancouver.com is highly moderated to keep our sites safe and free from annoying spam, duplicate ads and inappropriate content.

SparkPlay is an out of the box experienece for busy parents who want to connect with their children but find it hard to find the time. Each month a new curated adventure in play will be sent by mail to lucky boys and girls across Canada and the USA. Included in the experience is a 2 minute video tutorial for Mom or Dad on that month’s play as well as 3 different guided play activities which are designed to make their play session purposeful. Each play activity is designed with either cognitive, sensory or motor development at the centre.

Art Knapp will be showcasing its extensive line of fresh women’s clothing in a show tailored just for moms – just in time for fall. The show will feature Art Knapp’s flagship design brand Vero Moda, a line that offers quality, inspiring pieces at an affordable price, along with other brands like Soyaconcept, Jack, Papillon, Kersh and Desigual – to name a few.

Art Knapp will be showcasing its extensive line of fresh women’s clothing in a show tailored just for moms – just in time for fall. The show will feature Art Knapp’s flagship design brand Vero Moda, a line that offers quality, inspiring pieces at an affordable price, along with other brands like Soyaconcept, Jack, Papillon, Kersh and Desigual – to name a few.

OUR KIDS is your trusted source on private schools and summer camps in BC and across Canada, and hosts to the Vancouver Private School Expo. Learn about the leading education and program options available for your child, compare and rank private schools and summer camps, and find a program where your child will thrive.

Thank you to Images By Bethany, the official Leading Moms 2013 event photographer.

Bethany Schiedel of Images By Bethany has been photographing weddings and portraits since 2004 locally and worldwide. Her portraits are clean and natural focusing on the details, relationships, and capturing the moments.

Event Details

When: Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 7pmWhere: University Women's Club of Vancouver at Hycroft Manor

Join us on the evening of November 1 in the sumptuous ballroom at Hycroft Mansion for a glass of wine, some nibbles and of course lots of laughs, insights and maybe some misty tears as only Leading Moms can deliver.

Now in our 7th year, we’re talking all about the body: not just about the importance of putting yourself first and self care, but also how to have better sex after kids, how to keep your mindset positive as a mom pulled in multiple directions, as well as explore “why mommy drinks” and add even add in a bit of politics too.